SINGAPORE CITY: Indian-Origin In Singapore Gets Deputy Secretary-General Post In ASEAN Secretariat

SINGAPORE CITY: A senior Singaporean civil
servant of Indian origin has been appointed as the ASEAN Secretariat’s next
deputy secretary-general for its economic community, according to a media
report.

Satvinder
Singh assumed the post on Friday for a term of three years, the Ministry of
Trade and Industry (MTI) announced.

The ASEAN
Economic Community (AEC) aims to create a single market and production base for
the free flow of goods, services, investment, capital, and skilled labour
within the region.

Mr Singh,
who succeeds Dr Aladdin D Rillo from the Philippines, will support the ASEAN
secretary-general in the implementation of the AEC Blueprint 2025, as well as
the realisation of the AEC’s goals, The Straits Times reported.

He will
also oversee the directorates and divisions of the ASEAN Economic Community Department
in the ASEAN Secretariat.

Additionally,
he will manage development cooperation in economic matters, policy and
relations with ASEAN member states, dialogue partners and international
organisations as well.

Mr Singh
has relinquished his earlier role as the assistant chief executive officer of
Enterprise Singapore, a state-owned trade promotion agency.

MTI said
the AEC represents ASEAN’s continued commitment to an increasingly seamless,
integrated and connected region.

“It
envisions ASEAN as a single market and production base, a highly competitive
region with equitable economic development, and fully integrated into the
global economy,” The Straits Times quoted the ministry as saying.

MTI said
that over the years in its service, Singh has built strong relationships with
the global trade community, and strengthened the trading ecosystem in
Singapore.

He has
also led teams to develop strategies and policies to support companies in
strengthening capabilities and expanding overseas.
Singh is one of four deputies and the secretary-general in the ASEAN
Secretariat, who are all from different member states.

The
secretary-general for the ASEAN Secretariat currently is Lim Jock Hoi from
Brunei.